The History of Paris
with Chris Boïcos - Architecture, Urbanism, Society - Part 8:

Paris under the Second Empire II (1860-1870), the Commune and the
beginning of the Third Republic (1871-1880)

Opéra Garnier 1861-1875 by Charles Garnier (1825-1898)

1794 –
During the French Revolution the Opera moves into the theater of the Palais
Royal (on the current site of the Comédie Française).

1820 – Assassination of the
Bourbon heir, the Duc de Berry exiting the Opera. His uncle King Louis XVIII
orders the dismantling of the theater. A new theater is built re-using many of
the same materials by François Debert on rue Le Pelletier (near the hotel
Drouot).

1821 – Inauguration of the
new Opera of rue Le Pelletier later associated to the birth of grand opera in
the Romantic era.

1858 – Three bombs are
thrown by Italian anarchists, in an assassination attempt organized by Felice
Orsini, at the carriage of Napoleon III and Eugénie as they arrive at the
Opera. The imperial couple is miraculously spared, there are 8 dead and 150
wounded among the bystanders. Napoleon III decides to build a new, more secure
Opera theater.

1860 – An official
competition is held (a first in the 19th century) for the plans of
the new theater. 171 plans are presented to the jury ands against all
expectations the winning design is that of an unknown young architect, Charles
Garnier; The former official architect of the Imperial Opera, Rohault de
Fleury, disgusted, resigns.

1862 – Official pose of
first stone of new Opera by count Walewski president of the legislative
assembly. Garnier’s budget of 29 million francs is reduced by the government to
18 million and then again to 15 million.

1867 – The scaffolding is
brought down to show off the building during the Paris World’s Fair.

1870-71
– The unfinished building is used as warehouse during the Franco-Prussian war
and the siege of Paris. After the war under the new third Republic work resumes
but only intermittently.

1873 –
A fire destroys the rue Le Pelletier opera. It now become urgent to finish the
new theater. Garnier is given 18 months and 7 million francs to finish it.

1874 –
On 30 December, after intensive labor, Garnier delivers the new building, still
unfinished in parts. Le Glacier
(refreshment area) will be finished later and the smoking room (fumoir) never built.

1875 –
Official inauguration of the Opera by President Mac-Mahon with a gala reception
for 2000 guests on 6 January. Garnier who was not invited had to pay for his
own box. For the first time in history the ladies, lead by the Queen of Spain,
leave their boxes during the intermission to admire the new foyers,
establishing their right to move freely in the public spaces of the theater
from then on. Garnier is applauded by the crowd on exiting the Opera. The
building is considered a triumph.